Rod Dixon (gentleman in baseball cap, top left) and run-loving kids celebrating at Final Mile Event.

Rod Dixon (gentleman in baseball cap, top left) and run-loving kids celebrating at Final Mile Event.

Sarah and Dimity welcome two guests to talk about getting kids active and healthy. First up is Olympian Rod Dixon, a father (and grandfather!) runner who founded Kid’s Marathon Foundation, an in-school running and nutrition program that gets kids moving. In his delightful Kiwi accent, Rod shares stories about his start in running and how his experience lead him to help “keep kids calibrated” by bringing running into their school day. This 1983 New York City Marathon champion shares numerous race-day tips, including the importance of slowing down in the first half of a competition.

Next the gals are joined by Cathleen Kosak, a mom of three and a physical therapist. Cathleen shares the story of how, after reading about Rod’s program, she brought his program in her kids’ elementary school in suburban Connecticut—and has since helped launch it city-wide. Hear Cathleen talk about how her community’s moms and kids “grabbed hold of” the program and, well, ran with it.

Another Mother Runner hopes this podcast inspires you to help kids get and stay active. Two ways you can help:

-Join the Saucony Run For Good Challenge, challenging yourself to log 26.2 miles in September on Runkeeper. (If you don’t already have the Runkeeper app, download it on your smartphone to log your miles, and sign up for the Challenge on your computer.) Once you complete the 26.2-mile Challenge, for every mile you run (and log on Runkeeper), Saucony will donate $1 to causes like aimed at keeping children healthy and active, like Rod Dixon’s Kid’s Marathon Foundation.

-If you are involved with a non-profit orangization in your community that is encouraging kids to get active, you can apply for a grant from Saucony Run For Good Foundation by going to the Saucony website. Once there, you can download an application and learn more about how to get kids into a healthy and fit lifestyle.